First to Third: New York Times "Outs" David Ortiz

David Ortiz became the latest MLB star to become linked with performance-enhancing drugs as the New York Times revealed that Ortiz tested positive as part of MLB's survey drug testing in 2003. Ortiz joins Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, and Manny Ramirez, whose name was also released today, as the big name players outed from the 2003 list. There were 104 names on that list and we probably still have about 90 unknowns left.

As a fan, I'm pretty tired of reading about two players every several weeks/months/years that purportedly violated league rules. Let's face it: these names will come out, no matter if that's right or wrong (Editor's Note: the general position of SportsJudge.com goes even further and recognizes that the release of such names might even be illegal).

If sources such as The New York Times are not going to respect the confidentiality stipulation of the 2003 steroid testing, they should at least release all the names at once, rather than by piecemeal.

This won't make the steroid era go away. However, it will at least let us move on, and know the entire truth rather than just pieces of it.

First to Third Follow-Up: Fehr Out, Weiner Steps Up to Plate

Donald Fehr, the longtime Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, has announced his retirement, effective no later than the end of March 2010. Mr. Fehr's likely successor will be Michael Weiner, the current General Counsel for the Union. Jerry Crasnick has a great article on ESPN.com about Mr. Weiner, and I couldn't agree more with what he says.

In addition to what Mr. Crasnick details in his article, this is a no-brainer choice for the Players Association for several other reasons. First, selecting Mr. Weiner will insulate the Players Association from the type of situation the NFLPA experienced in its recent elections for a successor to the late Gene Upshaw. While the situations are different in terms of circumstances (Gene Upshaw died suddenly, while Don Fehr is retiring after a transition period), the fact remains that the MLBPA will not have any worries about an election interfering with looming collective bargaining agreement negotiations (the current CBA expires in 2011).

Second, Mr. Weiner has the negotiation experience with the Commissioner's office and owners that others would not necessarily have. Again, drawing a parallel with football, the NFLPA's current Executive Director, DeMaurice Smith, had no prior experience in labor law prior to his election. And while the NFL players obviously thought a fresh face was what the Union needed, the fact remains that Weiner will not have to engage in any on-the-job training.

Third, expect to see no major hiccups in the aforementioned upcoming CBA negotiations. The documented strong rapport Mr. Weiner has with Rob Manfred, the League's top labor lawyer, will surely help negotiations run smoothly. Unlike other sports (i.e., the NFL), the likelihood of a work stoppage appears to be minimal in baseball, and that will not change with Mr. Weiner at the helm.

Finally, from a personal perspective, the MLBPA couldn't have selected a more brilliant person for the job. I have had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Weiner on several occasions. The most recent was at the Seton Hall Sports & Entertainment Law Symposium on November 7, 2008 (an event which I organized and ran). Weiner was one of our panelists that day, speaking on the topic of the health of professional athletes and the obligations to perform. Mr. Weiner was very articulate, abundantly knowledgeable, and most importantly, genuinely passionate about the Union's obligation to protect the health of its players. In a short few weeks, the Seton Hall Journal of Sports & Entertainment Law will be publishing a transcript of the Symposium, including Mr. Weiner's remarks. (I hope you get a chance to check it out.) Rest assured baseball fans, the MLB Players Association is in great hands with Mr. Weiner, and this is one baseball fan who is happy about that.

(Cross-posted on Sports & Business Blawg.)

Fantasy Baseball Dispute About Manny Ramirez? SportsJudge Has Answers

Yesterday afternoon in the Wall Street Journal Online, Nando Di Fino predicted that Manny Ramirez's 50-game drug-related suspension would lead to a wide range of fantasy baseball disputes. He also suggested that fantasy commissioners should "mosey over to a fantasy arbitration site like Sports Judge and let a detached stranger make that call on the veto for you."

And "mosey over" they did.

For the past several hours, the SportsJudge Court of Fantasy Baseball has been resolving two types of disputes involving Manny Ramirez -- (1) trade disputes; and (2) active roster disputes.

Trade Disputes Involving Manny:

The SportsJudge team has resolved a few disputes about trades involving Manny Ramirez. As we told the Wall Street Journal in an evening follow-up story, generally, trades made after the Ramirez steroids news broke Thursday were nullified. Those made before would stand. This is consistent with our previous view in the case Commissioner P.K. v. Cartman & The Atlanta Secessions, Index 409-T (June 2, 2007), which held that "a trade shall be analyzed as of the time it is consummated ... any events that emerge subsequently have no relevance."

Of course, one caveat to the general rule would be if a team that traded away Manny before the story broke had access to insider information. Another caveat would be if Manny was traded after the story broke, but at a substantial discount that factored in the knowledge of both parties.

Active Roster Disputes Involving Manny:

The SportsJudge.com team has also received a large number of disputes regarding whether teams may remove Manny Ramirez from their active roster during his suspension. Here, the SportsJudge.com Court of Fantasy Baseball had to review each league's constitution on a case-by-case basis. In leagues that do not have reserve squads or suspended lists, Manny Ramirez's fantasy owners would have to treat him just like any healthy player.

Don't like that outcome? Well, these fantasy owners should have considered the risk of this sort of suspension when drafting their league constitution. It is not as if Manny Ramirez is the first baseball player ever suspended--albeit, he is almost certainly the best player yet to take a 50-game hit.

Sports and the Calculator: How One UCLA Pitcher is Using Physics on the Mound

Loyal SportsJudge.com readers probably know that we rarely link to other articles, and almost never link to stories written by college papers. However, this one is too good to pass up.

The UCLA Daily Bruin published a piece today on Trevor Bauer, the son of an engineer who spends his free time solving math equations and actually uses physics on the mound to develop new pitches. The auspicious Bauer seems to have skipped his senior year of high school, and is already starring on the collegiate level.

This kid sounds a lot like the next Syd Finch. Only he's real, and does not wear boots on the mound.

I'm sure our fantasy baseball arbitration team will be resolving disputes about this guy's rights in a few years.

Anyway, for a really great article on a really remarkable prospect, see the full post in the UCLA Daily Bruin here.

Legal Community Sings Praises of SportsJudge.com's Fantasy Baseball Arbitration

Last week, both David Frank of the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and Robert J. Ambrogi of Legal Blog Watch sung the praises of SportsJudge's April 10, 2009 fantasy baseball arbitration ruling, which held the Hampshire League Commissioner could not unilaterally extend the bidding process for signing free agents.

For those interested in learning why the SportsJudge Court of Fantasy Baseball ruled against extending the free agent bidding period, visit our docket of published opinions and search for the case Philadelphia Freedoms v. Cedarburg Tigers & the Hampshire Baseball League, Index No. 3004.

Also, for those that are interested in seeing what SportsJudge justices do during the day (when they are not engaged in fantasy baseball arbitration), see here and here.

SportsJudge.com 2009 Fantasy Baseball League: And They're Off

Welcome to the bi-weekly recap of the SportsJudge.com 2009 Fantasy Baseball League. About a month and a half ago we posted Part I and Part II of the draft recap. Two weeks ago we took a look at some of the more important moves during the preseason. This week we will get our first look at the standings and some of the moves that occurred over the first two weeks. Remember, our league uses a very limited bench and a two transaction per week limit.

I am currently in first place as I was able to overtake Jesse Spector yesterday. Spector has been in first for the first two weeks of the season and it didn't look like he was going to look back. Luckily, I was able to make a push, it is doubtful I will stay on top all year, though. Scott Simon also made a big push to get his team out of the cellar where it has been all season. A fourteen point swing between Chris Carmona and Simon pushed Simon over the edge. Brian Doyle, last year's champion, is also off to a very strong start currently sitting in third. There is a strong probability that the standings will be completely different five months from now, but it never hurts to get off to a strong start.

As you would expect, there were numerous transactions over the last few weeks. However, unlike some of my other leagues, there haven't been any moves that were all that questionable. Much like all of your leagues, the hot starts were pounced on. Bonifacio was picked up the first day and Nyjer Morgan was grabbed the next day. Conversely, the cold starts have found their way to waiver wire, but they were all smart decisions. Jason Motte and his flat fastball are sitting in free agency, as are Lastings Milledge and Hideki Matsui. Here are some of my favorite moves over the first two weeks.

Mike Colligan finally went all in on his Trevor Cahill man crush, but dropped Ryan Franklin in the process (in his defense Franklin had not yet saved a game). As the unfortunate Motte owner, I quickly jumped all over Franklin and it looks like I have lucked into St. Louis' closer for the near future. I like Franklin and I think he will probably keep the closer gig. He doesn't have dominant stuff, but he did a reasonably good job last season and is off to a strong start this year. I consider Franklin a must own in all league formats.

Darren Heitner made a very strong move yesterday grabbing Chris Duncan in exchange for Griffey. I had been watching Duncan all week, but previously used my transactions. In a deep league with a CI position, Duncan is very valuable as he has first base eligibility. Duncan has been batting anywhere between fourth and sixth in St. Louis' potent lineup. He is combining a strong average with solid RBI and run totals. He has also been getting compliments from LaRussa in the press. He could produce top 10-15 numbers for a first baseman and top 30 to 40 numbers for outfielders. Duncan should be owned in all but very shallow leagues.

There must be something in the water in Kansas City and Chris Carmona is drinking from the same fountain. Zach Greinke, Gil Meche, and Kyle Davies have each had very strong starts and Carmona was able snag Davies. Davies is a young pitcher who could be coming into form. He was very strong last September and is building off that finish. He showed good control last season and is using that control to his benefit this season. He currently has a 13:3 strike out to walk ratio and is averaging a hair over a strike out per inning. KC is playing well to start the year and if they can give Davies decent run support, Davies could be a strong fourth or fifth pitcher.

Carmona also made what was probably the best move of the two weeks in picking up Nick Swisher. Swisher has been killing the ball for the Yankees and with the recent injury to Xavier Nady, looks to be in line for plenty of playing time. Sure, Swisher shouldn't continue to hit for average, but he has shown legit power in the past. Swisher has been hitting fourth recently and that should continue until A-Rod gets back or Swisher goes cold. You have to like the odds of Swisher hitting about 25 home runs, collecting 80-90 RBI, and scoring 70-80 runs. I'll take that from my third or fourth outfielder, even with a .270 average.

Jordan Zucker made another strong move by adding super-rookie Elvis Andrus. Andrus probably won't continue to hit .300, but his speed is for real. In a very good Texas lineup Andrus could get about 80 runs and combine it with 25-35 stolen bases. In a league that uses a MI position, those numbers are very useful. Andrus' value in a 12 team mixed league is debatable, but in deeper leagues, Andrus is a solid option. If Andrus can hit at least .280, though, he becomes an option in deeper leagues. However, I don't expect to see the five-tool talent until next year.

In desperation to make something happen, Scott Simon is looking for help from...the Pirates? Yeah, that's right, Scott picked up Zach Duke to help bolster his underperforming pitching staff. It is the same Pirate that jumped on the fantasy scene a few seasons ago and was coached into obscurity. Duke seams to have found his mechanics and has pitched strongly. I view him as slightly better than a match ups pitcher, which makes him valuable in just about all leagues. Remember, there is still solid value in players that play for bad teams.

There were plenty of other moves, but these were the most interesting. Check back in two weeks for our second bi-weekly league roundup. As with any SportsJudge article, feel free to leave a comment or question.

The Buzz Around The Bullpen: You Better Motte Miss Out on This Guy

Welcome back to another edition of the “Buzz Around the Bullpen”. I know I’ve said in the past that September might be the greatest month for sports. But now that it’s here, early April may be just as incredible. For me, the most exciting part is the start of the Major League Baseball season, but the buzz surrounding the upcoming NFL draft, the NCAA Basketball Championship, and the last couple of games of the NHL season certainly can keep a true sports fan busy.

I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for the start of the 2009 season. So without further ado, let’s play some ball and let’s talk about some hits and misses for the first week of the 2009 MLB baseball season.

Big Hits

Jason Motte (RP, STL): As I write this, I'm watching my hometown Buccos light up Jason Motte for a ninth inning comeback. While this doesn't bode well for the young closer, one game is not going to change veteran manager Tony LaRussa's mind. If you need some more convincing, take a look at Motte’s Spring Training numbers. He managed to record 15 Ks in 10 1/3 innings and he was dominant at times. Although he got hit around a bit in the opener, Motte has electric stuff and this one bad outing is not enough to give up on him. He’s still available in about one third of all leagues and I look for him to rebound immediately from this first bad outing.

Travis Ishikawa (1B, SF): If you’re reading this name for the first time, you’re in the vast majority. Ishikawa has burst onto the scene in San Francisco hitting a ridiculous 7 HRs in Spring Training. Because of his hot bat, he has earned the starting job at 1B for San Francisco and is set to get a ton of at-bats in ’09. Last year between Double A and the Major Leagues, Ishikawa hit 27 HRs in only 500 at-bats. It will be interesting to see how Ishikawa deals with Major League pitching on a daily basis but for right now, he’s definitely worth a flier if you’re in need of some cheap power. He’s only owned in 25% of leagues so you may have the luxury of waiting a week or two on him. I like what I’ve seen from this guy and I’d definitely own if I had some roster room.

Fernando Rodney (RP, DET): The second (see above) example already this year of why I always advise readers not to pay for saves. With Joel Zumaya on the shelf and Brandon Lyon pitching poorly in Spring Training, skipper Jimmy Leyland has named Rodney as his opening day closer. Rodney will have to pitch well to keep his job because he’ll be feeling the pressure from Lyon, a rehabbing Zumaya, and a young stud named Ryan Perry. For the time being, Rodney is not a bad option for owners like me who thought Carlos Marmol was the hands-on favorite for the Cubbies closer job.

Big Misses

Jeremy Bonderman (SP, DET): I’m still not sure why, but I took a chance on Bonderman in the SportsJudge.com fantasy league with one of my last picks. At the time, it seemed like it could be a great value pick. However, I forgot one thing…he’s Jeremy Bonderman. Bonderman hasn’t pitched over 180 innings since 2006. In 2006, he recorded his lowest season ERA which was an extremely mediocre 4.08. His career WHIP is 1.39 and he’s never won more than 14 games in one season. Somehow I got doped into drinking the Kool-Aid and thought that the season coming off an extensive circulatory surgery would be the perfect time for a breakout season. Needless to say, right now he’s stashed on my DL but he will be out of the door as soon as my fourth outfielder develops even a hang nail. I would stay away at all costs and until he proves otherwise, he’s not worth owning.

Joe Mauer (C, MIN): Unlike Bonderman, Mauer is obviously still worth owning. However, I included him on this list because I believe his back problem is and will be a much bigger issue for him in ’09. Most media outlets are predicting Mauer to miss the first few weeks of the season but I have to believe Mauer will miss at least the first month or two. Even if Mauer is able to come back in the next couple of weeks, he will definitely be behind schedule as he did not take an at-bat during Spring Training. Being that he is a catcher, one has to assume that this will be a reoccurring issue all season. When healthy Mauer is among the top 3-5 catchers in the league but a sore back/pelvis does not bode well for any hitter. If I’m a Mauer owner, I’m scouring the waiver wire or making a small move for a catcher like Ramon Hernandez or Mike Napoli who can give you great production during Mauer’s absence.

As with any SportsJudge articles, please feel free to post any questions or comments. Until next time, keep your ears open for the Buzz Around the Bullpen.

First to Third: Playoff Predictions

With last night's Phillies/Braves season opener, the 2009 baseball season is now underway and it couldn't have come sooner! For the next several months, baseball fans everywhere won't have to worry about what to watch on tv at night, they know that more often than not, baseball will be on.

First to Third's 2009 season preview wraps up today with the playoff predictions:

AL Wild Card: Red Sox - The AL East is the best division in baseball and the competition between the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays should produce three 90 win teams. Unfortunately, the AL East can only send two members to the postseason and with the Yanks as my pick to win the division, the Red Sox will win the Wild Card. The Rays are a great team, but they won't be sneaking up on anyone this year and Boston is a very strong, deep team.

NL Wild Card: New York Mets - The Phillies are just too good to not win the NL East and I think K-Rod will help the prevent Met collapse three-peat down the stretch. I think the West is one of the worst divisions in baseball and shouldn't be too competitive. The Reds and the Marlins could challenge for the final postseason berth, but if the Mets stay healthy, they should be playing in October.

American League Champ: New York Yankees. It's likely to be another Yankees/Red Sox ALCS and this one should be a classic as the Red Sox will look to spoil the first ALCS at The House that George Built. I don't think the Sox can overcome the Yanks, so I'll take the Bronx Bombers in 7.

National League Champ: Chicago Cubs. I'm tempted to go for a Subway Series, Part Deux, but I don't think the Mets have the pitching depth to get that far. Pitching wins championships and I think the Cubs staff takes them to the World Series with a chance to break the 100+ year old curse.

World Series Champion: New York Yankees. Yankee manager Joe Girardi chose #27 because that was his goal - to guide the Bronx Bombers to their 27th World Championship. With a deep rotation and a good lineup, the Yankees should be able to get the job done in the first season of New Yankee Stadium.

AWARDS:

NL CY Young: Dan Haren, Arizona Diamondbacks. The easy pick is for a repeat from Tim Lincecum, but Haren is underrated and an ace on almost any other team, except that he plays in the shadow of teammate Brandon Webb.

AL Cy Young: James Shields, Tampa Bay Rays. He earnd the nickname "Big Game" for his stellar performance at the end of 2008, so I'll take a chance on the 27-year old Shields. A lot of the "experts" are thinking CC Sabathia, but I have my doubts that he conquers New York in one season. Roy Halladay is an easy guess, but I won't go there since I think he'll get traded mid-season.

NL MVP: Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers. He's won the World Series (twice), but one piece of hardware missing from Casa De Manny is the MVP award. He put up MVP numbers last year after moving out west and I think he continues to mash and Manny collects the hardware.

AL MVP: Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians. We all know by now that the MVP is really the player that puts up the best numbers, at least that's who usually wins the award. I think it's time for Sizemore to break out and join the 40/40 club en route to his first MVP award.

SportsJudge.com 2009 Fantasy Baseball League: Preseason Happenings

This is the first article of the bi-weekly coverage surrounding SportsJudge.com's 2009 Fantasy Baseball League. To familiarize yourself with the teams, check out Part I and Part II of the draft recap. In the draft recap, you will find all of the league settings the league will utilize in 2009 as well as introductions to the owners and their rosters. Remember, when considering moves, the SportsJudge league may be deeper or more shallow than yours. Fantasy advice can't always be given and received in a vacuum, much advice depends on your specific team needs and league settings. One thing worth keeping in mind is the limited bench we use in our league, it limits speculative moves and makes every move meaningful.

This week we will focus on some of the preseason moves made since the draft occurred leading up to opening day. There have been some interesting developments since the draft nearly a month ago. Much like in other leagues, most of the significant preseason moves have surrounded closers.

The first significant move involved Jordan Zucker, of Girls Guide to Fantasy Football, peeking into the future and plucking Kevin Gregg from the waiver wire. As it turns out, Zucker was right on with this move. At the time of the draft, most assumed Marmol would close in Chicago. However, speculation quickly arose and Zucker jumped all over Gregg. I have my doubts that Gregg will keep the job all year, but, at a minimum, Zucker was able to attain an opening day closer for next to nothing. For now Gregg has the job and its his to lose.

Seeing Zucker's speculation and knowing my closers were my weak spot, I jumped all over Manny Corpas and Jason Motte to help secure my closer needs. At the time, I figured Motte would end up closing, he was just pitching too well and looked too dominant. I had to jump on Corpas because he was at the time blowing Houston Street away for the Colorado job. Since then, Corpas' velocity is slightly down, Street is pitching better and has won the Colorado job. For now, I will hold onto Corpas as my handcuff until I see Street perform. Also, I don't think Motte keeps the closer job in St. Louis. His fastball is hard, but flat, which will eventually spell trouble. I'll get some April saves from Motte, but anything on top of that is icing.

Michael Colligan tried his hand at closers by picking up Carlos Villanueva when it became apparent Hoffman would start on the DL, but dropped him days later for a better move. Colligan was able to pick up Scott Downs as soon as he heard the concerns surrounding BJ Ryan and his loss of velocity. Downs is definitely a better option than Villanueva. Once Hoffman is healthy again, Villanueva won't sniff a save. Ryan's injury sounds worse and he could miss significant time. If Ryan is injured, Downs is expected to get the first shot at those saves. If you can have both, keep Villanueva and Downs, but if you have to choose, Downs has a better upside.

Scott Simon rounds up the closer moves with the best of them all. I must admit, I am ashamed of myself for missing him, but Simon was able to grab Chris Ray from free agency, only two weeks ago. I can't speak for other owners, but I just assumed he was owned. Don't ever make that mistake; always check to make sure. Sherrill will start the year as Baltimore's closer, but I think Ray wins the job by the end of April. Of all the possible closers added in the preseason, Ray has the best season long value.

There were two significant non-closer moves this preseason, both including pitchers, both of which I was waiting to pick up once Lackey was officially place on the DL. Zucker made another excellent move in picking Wandy Rodriguez, who she dropped to pick up Gregg. I love Wandy this year. He continues to improve each season and, with a little luck, could flirt with a K/IP. Many will point to his bad road numbers, but those have also continued to improve each year. He isn't a top 20 pitcher but could crack top 40.

The second move involved Kelvim Escobar. Darren Heitner of Sports Agent Blog snagged Escobar who is eying a probable late April/early May return. He will start the season on the DL, but is easily worth a flyer. Stash him on the DL and let him stay there until you have had a chance to evaluate him. I don't think he returns to be a top 15-20 pitcher, but top 50 is definitely worth that risk.

Check back in two weeks for more moves and the first standings of the 2009 season.

First to Third: Divisional Previews - AL East

I think that three of the five teams in the AL East are going to win at least 90 games, which should make for an interesting and historically tight race. Which team will come out on top?

Fresh Meat - While the $160 million man CC Sabathia has garnered much of the media attention and hype in the Bronx, AJ Burnett (pictured) is a key acquisition for the Yankees. In 10 years in the bigs Burnett has only been healthy enough to pitch 200 innings three times - each in a contract year. Burnett won't have a contract year for another five years and the Yankees hope he can shake the injury bug so he doesn't wind up like another former Marlin who signed with the Yankees after a big year - Carl Pavano.

Dearly Deported - Maybe he hasn't departed yet, but with the Blue Jays pretty far out of contention this year, start the Roy Halladay trade watch. Halladay is only under contract through 2010 and could fetch a king's ransom if the Blue Jays decide to trade him. The only way Toronto is going to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox is going the way of the Rays and building from the farm system. That means trading Halladay by July 31.

How They'll Finish:

1. Yankees - It's almost too close to call, but if the Yankees stay healthy they will win at least 95 games and the AL East title. With 18 game winner Chien-Ming Wang as your number 3 starter, there are few teams in baseball that can rival the Yankees rotation depth. If Joba Chamberlain is their fifth starter, their sixth and seventh starters are highly touted (although less so after a disastrous 2008) Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. Hughes is the real deal and is a future Cy Young candidate. Pitching wins championships and the Yanks win the East.
2. Red Sox - They made great pickups in the off-season taking fliers on John Smoltz, Rocco Baldelli, and Takashi Saito to bolster their depth. Their pitching staff is good, but can Wakefield and Smoltz (each over 40) each shoulder the load of the rotation that is expected to go deep into October? If not, Clay Buchholz is a more-than suitable replacement.
3. Rays - Let's be real for a minute. They are arguably more talented this year than last with the eventual arrival of David Price, but their bullpen has HUGE questions, starting with who is going to close? Watch for a Mets-like collapse because of bullpen problems as the Rays fade away back to a *mediocre* (only in the AL East) 88-90 wins.
4. Orioles - Future rookie sensation Matt Wieters is the real deal and will jump into the MVP race when he gets called up, let alone the Rookie of the Year race. Adam Jones continues to develop and they have one of the most exciting players in the league in Nick Markakis, but alas, someone has to lose games in this division.
5. Blue Jays- Picked to finish last because of age (Vernon Wells, Scott Rolen, et al) in their lineup, not in their rotation. Their starters are pretty good and will strike out a lot of hitters, but with a so-so offense behind them, the starters can't win games.
   

And Now You Know!: Vida Blue

Looking ahead to the baseball season in 2 days I stumbled upon an interesting tidbit. Who is the last switch hitting player to win the AL MVP? If I told you that he batted just .118 that entire season would it surprise you even more?

The story started when Jack Aker, relief pitcher for the Yankees was working on a string of 33 scoreless innings when the Oakland A's ended that steak giving Vida Blue his first career victory. That was back in 1969 when the 19 year old, Vida Blue, was trying to find his way in the Major Leagues.

A year later Vida Blue made his first career start, shutting out the Royals. Not to be outdone though, for his second career start Blue threw a no-hitter in front of just 4,000 fans in Oakland.

The legacy goes on as the next year Blue worked his first full season in the league and at 22 years old went on to win the Cy Young award and MVP awards. Blue would be the last switch-hitter to win the award although he only had 12 hits that year. Obviously the awards were for his performance on the mound in which Blue went 24-8 with a 1.82 ERA (League ERA = 3.36). Blue also had 301 strikeouts in this year but never had more than 189 strikeouts in any other single season during his 17 year career.

Blue then went on to do what ever other current player seems to do in MLB, he held out for more money. Blue made a mere $15,000 that year, a bargain to say the least, and was holding out for close to $90,000. Blue was insistent on not playing anymore if he didn't get his money. Blue was a deft tradesman when it came to plumbing and was willing to work to fix toilets for the rest of his life if the Athletics did not meet his demand.

After a month into the season the A's gave into the star pitcher and Blue returned to work on May 2, 1972. Unfortunately for Blue, he wasn't working on his game while holding out and returned to the mound overweight and out of shape. His arm would never be the same again as aforementioned, his strikeouts remained low.

Still, strikeouts did not make the player as Vida Blue averaged over 19 wins a season from 73-76, and in '76 the Athletics tried to move Blue to the Yankees but the transaction was blocked by Commissioner Kuhn and again in 1977 when Kuhn rejected an attempted transaction with the Reds. Kuhn claimed that the trades weren't fair for baseball as they made the powerful teams in the league more powerful without relinquishing enough in return.

The A's owner, Charlie Finley filed a $10 million lawsuit against Kuhn and refused to play Blue for 10 days, along with Rollie Fingers and Joe Rudi, two other Athletics involved in deals.

Finally in 1978 the Athletics got their wish and moved Vida Blue to the San Fransisco Giants. The deal was declared fair by Kuhn in large part because the Giants were trading 7 players for 1 guy, a major league record for any one player.

Blue would go on to only win 85 games in the last 8 years following his trade. In 1983 Blue was sentenced to 90 days in jail on charges of possession of cocaine. Kuhn suspends Blue for the entire 1984 season.

Kuhn would return to baseball for a few years and in 1987, a month after signing with the Athletics, Blue announced his retirement finishing with 209 victories, never reestablishing the dominance he had back in 1971 but still fighting his drug addiction. He was a dominant post season pitcher going 6-2 including 3-0 in World Series games as he helped the A's win 3 titles in a row.

Blue will probably never make the Hall of Fame although he has had a positive impact on baseball, including most recently working in Community Relations with the Giants. Blue's stats are very similar to another recently retired pitcher, Curt Schilling, and the debate goes on whether or not he should be in the Hall. We shall see!

And Now You Know! (And Knowing is Half the Battle)

First to Third: Divisional Previews - AL Central

The AL Central is bound to be an interesting race as talent-wise, the teams match up pretty well with one another.

Fresh Meat: Former Cubs utilityman Mark DeRosa should settle in nicely for the Indians at third base. Playing second, third, or either of the corner outfield positions in Chicago last year, DeRosa hit .285 with 21 home runs and 87 RBI in 505 at-bats. As an everyday player, look for DeRosa to do that and more. In spring training with the Indians he hit .400 in 25 at-bats with a slugging percentage of .907. You can argue that spring training doesn't mean anything (and I'm not considering his WBC stats) but any player who hits 200 points better than his career slugging percentage is bound for a break out season.

Dearly Deported: After failing to get his batting average over the Mendoza line during spring training, the Tigers chose to cut Gary Sheffield (pictured) and eat the $14 million left on his contract rather that watch him take cuts in the batter's box this season. Sheff is just another veteran power bat that will be homeless as the season starts as the game itself begins to place more of an importance on athleticism. Someone will take a chance on him and his 499 career home runs for the league minimum, so Sheff will be back.

How They'll Finish:

1. Twins - Even without a veteran stopper at the top of the rotation, the Twins still managed to stay in the AL Central race until the very end in 2008, losing to the White Sox in a one-game playoff. This season, the Twin pitchers should continue to mature, leading Minnesota to the playoffs. It's their division to lose.
   
2. White Sox - A lot of people think that the Sox will sink toward the bottom of the division, but I still like their pitching staff. The lineup isn't great and is getting old, which will keep them out of the playoffs. The Sox will miss Javy Vazquez at the top of the rotation and won't challenge Minnesota at the end of the year.
3. Indians - There is no way Cliff Lee wins the Cy Young award in 2009. Given that, where does that leave the Cleveland rotation? Pavano? Carmona? Does anyone see any consistent production in that top three? If the Indians don't get consistency, they won't be playing meaningful baseball in the fall.
4. Royals - KC added a couple of nice pieces in the off-season as they continue to strive for mediocrity. It won't be long until the Royals compete for this division, but I just can't see it this year, they just don't have enough pitching.
5. Tigers - Detroit actually could be very good if everyone stays healthy and if their rotation returns to the 2006 form that took the Tigers to the World Series. Unfortunately, Justin Verlander has lost velocity on his fastball and is on a one-way trip to Mark Prior-ville. There is no one that Jim Leyland can count on in the bullpen and Dontrelle Willis was placed on the DL with an anxiety disorder. That just doesn't sound good and neither do the Tigers' 2009 chances.
   

First to Third: Divisional Previews - AL West

With the National League previews wrapped up, it's time to direct our attention to the American League and the previews start in the AL West where the Angels stranglehold on the division is loosening up.

Fresh Meat - The Texas Rangers moved five-time All-Star Michael Young to third base to make room for prospect Elvis Andrus. Andrus (pictured) is one of the top hitting prospects in a pitching rich Texas system but has never played higher than AA ball. Andrus isn't going to ever be the hitter than Young is but Andrus is phenomenal defensively. The Rangers see him as a future lead-off hitter because of his speed and his decent on-base percentage but he'll have to prove he can handle the bat at a high level in order to stay in the bigs.

Dearly Deported - The Angels lost the most this off-season, none more important than Mark Teixeira. Although he only spent about half the season with the team, the Angels, specifically Vlad Guerrero, will miss his bat in the middle of the order and the Anaheim infielders will miss his glove.

How They'll Finish:

1. A's - If there's one person that knows how to build a winner it's Billy Beane. He pulled the trigger on the Matt Holliday trade when given the green light by ownership to win now and that's just what the A's will do. Their young pitching is solid and their lineup will score plenty of runs.
   
2. Angels - No team will fall farther than the Angels in 2009 as Baseball Prospectus' infamously accurate PECOTA prediction has the Angels going from 100 wins in 2008 to 84 in 2009. Bobby Abreu is a great addition, but the Angels are on the decline as their hitters get older and John Lackey gets ready to become a free agent at the end of the season.
   
3. Rangers - Texas will make things interesting in the AL West and will be a force once their superb young pitchers are ready for the majors. I think Texas is a year away from the playoffs but have an exciting future.
   
4. Mariners - In a few years, this will be Seattle's division. New GM Jack Zduriencik will have the Mariners in the World Series within five years but for now he has to fix the mess he inherited from his predecessor.
   

The Buzz Around The Bullpen: Breakout or Bust?

Welcome back to another edition of the “Buzz Around the Bullpen”. If you are a diehard baseball fan like me, you are probably feeling like a kid in a candy shop today. While the World Baseball Classic was a nice appetizer, the excitement surrounding the start of the MLB baseball season cannot be duplicated. For me, the start of the baseball season means two things. My fantasy league websites will now become engrained on my computer screen for the next six months and I once again have Peter Gammons and the crew to put me to sleep with Baseball Tonight.

Being that the start of the season is less than a week away, I struggled with what approach I wanted to take with this article. In case you missed it, I’ve already focused on each position and I’ve also discussed some Spring Training standouts. Therefore, I thought today I could focus on a hitter and a pitcher that I expect to breakout in ’09. Also, I’m going to discuss a hitter and a pitcher that might leave their owners disappointed and wishing for more.

For now, let’s get started with two guys that I predict will breakout in ’09 and have their owners feeling like last years Carlos Quentin owners.

Fantasy Breakout Hitter

Chris Davis (1B, Texas Rangers): If you have been following my positional previews, it is not a secret that I am extremely high on Chris Davis this season. For starters, he has dual positional eligibility (1B, 3B) and as I’m sure you’re aware of, this can provide you with great roster flexibility. Secondly, he has had great numbers throughout his entire professional career including last year when he put up a respectable full season stat line in only 295 at-bats (.285, 17 HRs, 55 RBIs, 51 runs and 1 SB). If this still isn’t a enough, Davis will be playing half of his games at the launching pad this is the Ballpark in Arlington. If you haven’t drafted already, you’re going to have to act in the first six rounds to snag Davis. I promise, he’ll be worth the early round pick.
Fantasy Breakout Pitcher

Yovani Gallardo (SP, Milwaukee Brewers): If you take a look at his stats over 24 IPs last season, it is likely that Gallardo was well on his way to a “breakout” season in ’08. Unfortunately, Gallardo injured his knee in the first month of the season and was only able to make one more start in ’08. In case you forgot, this guy was one of the most sought after waiver options when he got his call to the big leagues in ’07. I look for Gallardo to step right into a revamped Brewers rotation and become the ace of the staff. Over his brief major league career, Gallardo possesses a mediocre 3.35 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. However, he has front of the rotation “stuff” and as he matures, his numbers will be much improved. The hype that surrounded him in ’07 is legitimate and in ’09, he will finally have an opportunity to put together a full season of great stats.

It is difficult to predict a hitter and a pitcher that are going to be the “busts” of ’09 because of the many variables. As we’ve seen in the past, you’re superstar hitter or pitcher is only one injury away from making your team a lot less competitive (See Erik Bedard). These are two guys that I think are going to see a significant decline and maybe even some extended time on the DL in ’09.

Fantasy Bust Hitter

Garrett Atkins (1B, 3B, Colorado Rockies): Let me start by saying that I believe Garrett Atkins will still be a serviceable fantasy option in ’09. Right now Atkins is being drafted on average around the 6th round and I feel this is a little too early for someone with his numbers. It’s not that I don’t like his numbers, it’s just how they’ve changed over the last three years that scares me. Over the last three years, Atkins' at-bats have slightly increased and his numbers have dramatically decreased. If you take a look at his numbers, there has been a significant decline in his homerun totals, his RBI totals and his batting average. However, the most telling stat might be the increase in his strikeout numbers each year. Take all of this into account along with the fact that he has lost some serious protection in the lineup with the departure of Matt Holliday. If you’re set on taking a first base/third base player around the sixth round, look no further than the guy mentioned above.

Fantasy Bust Pitcher

Ervin Santana (SP, LAA): While dealing with some significant elbow problems in Spring Training, Ervin Santana has managed to find himself still being drafted around the 7th round in most leagues. There’s no need to debate what this guy can do if he’s healthy, but I for one am not willing to waste a 7th round pick on such a huge “if”. For owners that have drafted him already, you have to hope that he can follow the same path Scott Kazmir did after dealing with similar elbow issues in ’08. But if you actually look inside the numbers, the recent elbow problems become much more worrisome for me. In ’08, Santana took on the biggest workload of his career logging 219 innings pitched. Now he reports to Spring Training with a sprained ligament in his elbow.

I know I’m not a doctor but after having the dreaded Tommy John surgery myself, this sounds like a recipe for disaster for Santana. I truly hope he can get healthy but I’m predicting a season full of strained right forearms and tricep tendonitis. These are common injuries for pitchers with damaged ulnar collateral ligaments. The reason being that their forearm and tricep muscles become overworked and strained because they attempt to take on some of the work to protect the damaged ligament. While you can strengthen the muscles around the ligament, it’s only a matter of time before you are forced to shut it down and go under the knife. Although it pains me to suggest that someone is on their way to a fairly extensive elbow reconstruction, I have your fantasy teams best interest in mind. I would stay away at all costs and “if” he can stay healthy, then more power to the owner that took the chance.

As a parenthetical note, it sounds as though John Lackey and Cole Hamels are suffering from similar injuries. Owners of Lackey and Hamels should be prepared to act fast in case their number one goes down suddenly. In the case of Hamels, there isn't any structural damgage right now and as a Hamels' owner, I hope that doesn't change anytime soon.

As with any SportsJudge articles, please feel free to post any questions or comments. Until next time, keep your ears open for the Buzz Around the Bullpen.

First to Third: NL East Preview

The First to Third MLB divisional preview continue today with the National League East, home of the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Can the Phightin' Phils repeat?

Fresh Meat - You can't mention newcomers to this division without bringing up Francisco Rodriguez, the new Met closer, who helps strengthen the back of the Met bullpen, but what about JJ Putz? Putz (pictured) will likely man the 8th inning for the Mets and if he can return to 2007 form (1.38 ERA, 82 strikeouts in 71.2 innings), Met starters can comfortably turn over the game and head to the locker room knowing their win can be preserved.

Dearly Deported - The Marlins typically trade their entire team each off-season, but one impact player to leave the NL East not from the Fish is Pat Burrell, who leaves with a ring, although one can argue he didn't contribute much to it. Burrell went 1-for-14 in the World Series and leaves Philadelphia a career .257 hitter with 1273 strikeouts in 9 seasons, but Pat the Bat did hit 251 home runs in those 9 seasons. The Phillies think they upgraded with the addition of Raul Ibanez, who is a much better fielder than Burrell, but time will tell if Ibanez can replace Burrell's career average of 31 home runs and 103 RBI per season.

How They'll Finish:

1. Phillies - The champs are the favorite in the NL East with the best infield in the majors as three players (Utley, Howard, Rollins) are arguably the best at their position. The outfield leaves a lot to be desired as Ibanez isn't a sure bet in left, but their pitching should be consistent if everyone stays healthy. Watch for Cole Hamels to follow up his stellar postseason with a Cy Young type year.
   
2. Mets - Pitching wins championships and that's why the Mets still finish second in the division. Sure, they helped their bullpen out a lot, but after Johan Santana, can you really count on Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez, John Maine, and Livan Hernandez to carry you to the World Series? I don't think so. Perez is inconsistent at best, Pelfrey had one good year and should continue to develop. Maine is a question mark and what does Livan have left in the tank? The Mets hope he has a lot. There's also no way Carlos Delgado duplicates his 2008 season at age 37.
   
3. Marlins - They have a new stadium coming and every six years or so, the Fish win the World Series. I think the Marlins are still a couple pieces short of the postseason in 2009, but don't count the future Miami Marlins out entirely in the NL East race - they'll stay in the race for a while and could win the division in 2010.
   
4. Braves - The Braves are a team in decline and the Derek Lowe signing doesn't do them any favors in the rebuilding process. After a nice long run in the 1990s, the Braves need to strip their team and completely rebuild, an unenviable task for any GM.
   
5. Nationals - The addition of Adam Dunn gives the Nats a player that baseball fans have actually heard of. They chased Mark Teixeira who chose pinstripes instead of the nation's capitol and did so because of the chance to win. It will be a long time before the Nats flirt with .500.
   

"Miranda Warnings": 2009 "Studs and Duds" (Part 1 of 2)

Welcome to the 2009 version of "Miranda Warnings", your weekly guide to what's happening in the world of Major League Baseball, from a fantasy baseball perspective. Every Saturday, throughout baseball's regular season, "Miranda Warnings" will appear on SportsJudge.com. I'm your host Michael Miranda.

It's that time of year again. With Major League Baseball's regular season on the horizon, fantasy baseball magazines litter the magazine stands. The fantasy baseball magazines (and websites) have their player rankings, their sleepers/busts, and their cheat sheets. But, the fantasy baseball magazines and websites don't have "studs and duds"!

Welcome to the first of "Miranda Warnings" two-part series, "studs and duds" . Today, I bring you the 2009 "studs" (i.e. a must-have player). I'll select one "stud" from each Major League team. Next week, I bring you the 2009 "duds"!

A "Miranda Warnings" stud is not necessarily the best player on his Major League team, but he's a player that I would target on Draft Day 2009 because I expect him to exceed expectations. The "studs" profiles below are based on talent, potential, playing-time and extenuating circumstances. Let's get to it!

American League East:

Baltimore Orioles: There's no question that OF Nick Markakis is a stud. The question is, has he hit his ceiling or is there room for further improvement? I'm gonna say the latter. The next step in Markakis' improvement could come as soon as 2009. Markakis' potential/upside: .290-.300 BA, 90-100 runs, 25-30 HR's, 110-120 RBI's!

Boston Red Sox: You may not have known that OF Jason Bay had solid seasons in Pittsburgh, because he played for the lowly Pirates. If Bay can put up nice numbers for the Pirates, he'll have the opportunity to do some serious damage for Boston. Bay is signed through 2009, making '09 his "contract year". Bay is my dark-horse 2009 AL MVP! Don't laugh! Bay is a big-time talent with a great skill-set. He'll have the opportunity to strut his stuff in a great lineup and great hitters ballpark for all of 2009. Bay's potential/upside: .280-.290 BA, 90-100 runs, 30-35 HR's, 110-120 RBI's!

NY Yankees: On a Yankees' team full of studs, 1B Mark Teixeira could get lost in the shuffle. Don't you forget about him on D-Day 2009. Teixeira's potential/upside: .295-.310 BA, 100-110 runs, 35-40 HR's, 120-130 RBI's!

Tampa Bay Rays: Most OF Carl Crawford profiles tell you that he's never lived up to expectations, been a fantasy disappointment, blah, blah, blah. I'm telling you to get him on D-Day 2009. He's only 27, and his best years are ahead of him. While most fantasy GM's are pursing Tampa's OF B.J. Upton, 3B Evan Longoria and P David Price, don't you forget about Crawford. Crawford's potential/upside: .290-.300 BA, 100-110 runs, 15-20 HR's, 65-75 RBI's, 50+ SB's!

Toronto Blue Jays: OF Alex Rios has long been touted as a star. He's had solid seasons, but has yet to have monster season. The talent is there. Perhaps he puts it all together in 2009? Rios' potential/upside: .290-.300 BA, 90-100 runs, 25-30 HR's, 90-100 RBI's, 25-30 SB's!

American League Central:

Chicago White Sox: If OF Carlos Quentin has fully recovered from a broken wrist suffered in September, he could win the AL MVP award that eluded him in 2008. Quentin's potential/upside: .280-.295 BA, 90-100 runs, 40-50 HR's, 110-120 RBI's!

Cleveland Indians: SS Jhonny Peralta is an elite shortstop that most people don't know about. As a result, he gets little recognition/respect he deserves. A perfect example would be the fantasy magazine that ranked him 12th, amongst major league shortstops! Peralta has already put together two solid seasons (2007, 2008). Keep in mind that Peralta, 26, has yet to enter his prime years. This could be one of the best D-Day 2009 draft bargains. While Peralta gets overlooked by most fantasy GM's, you need to pounce on a guy who produces elite numbers at a thin position. Peralta's potential/upside: .270-.280 BA, 80-90 runs, 25-30 HR's, 90-100 RBI's!

Detroit Tigers: Hard to believe that 1B Miguel Cabrera is only 25. He's already put together a few monster seasons. There's no reason to think that he can't do the same in 2009. Cabrera's potential/upside: .310-.320 BA, 90-100 runs, 35-40 HR's, 110-120 RBI's!

Kansas City Royals: Like Cleveland SS Jhonny Peralta (see above), SP Zack Greinke gets little, or no, attention. But, his 2008 numbers don't lie (13-10, 3.47 ERA, 183 K's, 1.28 WHIP). Greinke is on a very, very short list of major league pitcers with four major league quality pitches. Greinke has Cy Young ability. On a slightly improved KC team, 2009 might be the year that Greinke puts it all together. Greinke's potential/upside: 15-20 wins, 3-3.50 ERA, 180-200 K's!

Minnesota Twins: All you need to know about OF Carlos Gomez is this... he was the centerpiece of the Johan Santana trade and he's faster than NY Mets SS Jose Reyes! It's not a matter of if, but when, Gomez turns into a star. Gomez remains a raw talent, but when he hones his skills, watch out!. When Gomez puts it all together, we're looking at the next Carl Crawford! Gomez' potential/upside: .275-.285 BA, 80-90 runs, 10-15 HR's, 60-70 RBI's, 50+ SB's!

American League West:

LA Angels: OF Vladimir Guerrero is a former elite OF, completely healthy for the first time in several years, and playing in his contract year. This is a recipe for an MVP-type season! Although he's coming off a down year, don't rule out an MVP-type season from one baseball's greatest hitters. Guerrero's potential/upside: .300-.310 BA, 90-100 runs, 35-40 HR's, 100-110 RBI's, 5-10 SB's!

Oakland A's: Can OF Matt Holliday perform at a high level, while not playing half his games in Colorado? I say no, but he's still a stud! Holliday's potential/upside: .290-.300 BA, 90-100 runs, 25-30 HR's, 100-110 RBI's!

Seattle Mariners: C/DH Jeff Clement is part of Seattle's youth movement and, based on his minor league numbers, is very capable of having a breakout season. Clement's potential/upside: .270-.280 BA, 60-70 runs, 15-20 HR's, 60-70 RBI's!

Texas Rangers: 1B/3B Chris Davis burst onto the scene in 2008. Davis won't come cheap in 2009, but this may be the lowest price-tag on him for many years to come! Note the dual position eligibility! He's got mammoth power and fully capable of putting together a monster season. Davis' potential/upside: .280-.290 BA, 80-90 runs, 30-35 HR's, 100-110 RBI's!

National League East:

Atlanta Braves: Switching leagues could be the final ingredient to making Javier Vazquez a very special pitcher. He's been rock-solid/durable for several years, but we could see him reach new heights in 2009. Vazquez has elite talent, but has yet to have an elite season. Like I said, the talent is there. Will 2009 be that special season? Vazquez' potential/upside: 15-20 wins, 3-3.50 ERA, 200+ K's!

Philadelphia Phillies: OF Shane Victorino is one of many catalysts in Philly's lineup. His best years are ahead of him. Victorino's potential/upside: .280-.290 BA, 100-110 runs, 15-20 HR's, 75-85 RBI's!

NY Mets: 3B David Wright is an elite talent who, believe it or not, is capable of improvement. Will 2009 be that special season? Wright's potential/upside: .300-.310 BA, 100-110 runs, 35-40 HR's, 110-120 RBI's!

Florida Marlins: P Ricky Nolasco battled arm problems heading into 2008. In 2008, he was healthy, and it showed. Nolasco went from being Florida's #5 starter in May, to one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball by years' end. Nolasco's potential/upside: 15-20 wins, 3-3.50 ERA, 200+ K's!

Washington Nationals: If OF Elijah Dukes can keep his head on straight and stay healthy, he is one of the few players in Major league Baseball with 30-30 potential. Dukes' potential/upside: .280-.290 BA, 80-90 runs, 25-30 HR's, 90-100 RBI's, 30+ SB's!

National League Central:

Chicago Cubs: In 2008, C Geovany Soto proved that his minor league numbers were for real! Soto is already one of the better catchers in baseball, and capable of even better numbers. Soto's potential/upside: .280-.290 BA, 70-80 runs, 25-30 HR's, 90-100 RBI's!

Cincinnati Reds: 1B Joey Votto is for real. In 2008, he hit over .300 on the road, which tells you just how good he is! Votto's potential/upside: .280-.290 BA, 80-90 runs, 25-30 HR's, 90-100 RBI's!

Houston Astros: OF Hunter Pence has huge upside, but must improve his plate discipline. If he can limit his free-swinging ways, he could be a bargain on D-Day 2009. Pence's potential/upside: .280-.290 BA, 80-90 runs, 25-30 HR's, 90-100 RBI's, 10-15 SB's!

Milwaukee Brewers: Almost everyone has given up on 2B Rickie Weeks, which could provide a great buying opportunity for you. Fantasy GM's may have written-off Weeks, but don't you do the same. He's still young enough to improve. Weeks has immense potential and you need to remember that come draft day. Weeks' potential/upside: .270-.280 BA, 80-90 runs, 20-25 HR's, 70-80 RBI's, 20-25 SB's!

Pittsburgh Pirates: C Ryan Doumit is one of the very few Pirates with upside. If healthy, Doumit could be a difference-maker in fantasy leagues. Doumit's potential/upside: .280-.290 BA, 70-80 runs, 15-20 HR's, 70-80 RBI's!

St.Louis Cardinals: OF Rick Ankiel has made a successful transiton from pitcher to hitter. If he could just stay healthy, we'd witness his immense potential. Ankiel's potential/upside: .270-.280 BA, 70-80 runs, 30-35 HR's, 90-100 RBI's!

National League West:

Arizona Diamondbacks: OF Chris Young has one thing holding him back from being a superstar... plate discipline/pitch selection. If he can improve in those areas, look out! Young's potential/upside: .270-.280 BA, 90-100 runs, 25-30 HR's, 80-90 RBI's, 30+ SB's!

Colorado Rockies: In 2008, C Chris Iannetta broke through, and his upside might be higher than what we saw last year. Iannetta's potential/upside: .270-.280 BA, 70-80 runs, 20-25 HR's, 80-90 RBI's!

LA Dodgers: OF Andre Ethier has proven that he has what it takes to be an everyday player. Ethier's potential/upside: .300-.310 BA, 80-90 runs, 20-25 HR's, 80-90 RBI's!

San Diego Padres: If P Chris Young can ever stay healthy, watch out! Young's potential/upside: 15-20 wins, 3-3.50 ERA, 200+ K's!

San Francisco Giants: Coming up through the San Francisco organization, P Matt Cain, and not Tim Lincecum, was ranked higher! This tells you just how good Cain can be. My only concern is that Cain has logged over 600 Major League innings, and he's only 24 years old! Yikes! That's a lot of innings for such a young pitcher. Fortunately, until now, Cain has been durable. Cain's potential/upside: 15-20 wins, 3-3.50 ERA, 200+ K's!

Thanks for reading "Miranda Warnings"!

See you next week!